Expectations for traveling with a patient??

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I've been searching the forums and only found one similar question about this So I'm starting my own thread...I am a Home Health Nurse. M-F 7-3 with a pediatric trach and vent 1 year old. I was recently asked by my patients mother to join them on their 4 day beach vacation in a month because they needed a nurse for their baby.

I accepted but I've been thinking about it more in depth and realized it may not be worth it for me to go after all. My agency has told me they would only pay me for 8 hours a day. The patient gets 16 hours a day of nursing but the family does not want to take the night nurse, they only want one nurse with them.

They are renting a beach house and their plan is to have me sleep in one of the guest bedrooms with their teenage daughter. As for expectations: They said they would want me to work during the day or evening depending on their plans for the day, they would care for the baby during the night (overnight) and I am responsible for my own meals and entertainment.

They said I would be allowed to leave and do my own thing as well. My concerns: working with this family, I know the mom will take advantage of the fact that I am there and expect me to be on call every and anytime they need me, (which I dont mind seeing how this is still work and not a pleasure trip) but I know I will be working anytime I am with them so 24/7.

If I am with them at all, the parents will expect me to be caring for the child. So I will be working non stop with an occasional hour break here or there possibly and since I will be in the same house as them, I will not be able to say for example, "No, I'm sorry, I cannot watch the baby while you go to dinner because I already did my 8 hours this morning." I know I will get attitude and resentment for declining. I am the only nurse the family trusts to come along so I feel guilty but I don't want to give up 4 days of my time for only 8 hours a day pay and the set up I explained. I'm not willing to pay for my own hotel as I am going for their benefit, not my own.

Trach and vent babies wouldn't be going anywhere near the beach for obvious safety reasons. So I would end up having to put aside extra money for meals and such, find a sitter for my dog (can't leave her alone for 4 days and have no family near by to leave her with) and all to be at someone's beck and call for 4 whole days?? It sounds like a bad idea now.

Anyone else do this already or have insight for me? It seems as though the only ones benefitting from this would be the parents because on a business/nursing aspect, I don't feel there is any incentive for me to go. Yes I would be going on vacation with them but keep in mind, it's not my vacation- its still businness/work, I will be sharing a room with their daughter (not the client), and I would not be compensated for more than 8 hours a day even though I would be working all day and evening I'm sure.

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I would NOT do it unless I were going to be paid the 16 hours per day, every day.

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Excuse me? Since when did you sign on for nannyhood? Its THEIR vacation, surely by this time mom and pop are perfectly capable of caring for THEIR child . Caring about one's young charges is all well and good, however IMHO this situation is beyond a home health nurse job description. I'd say a polite, Thanks but no thanks.

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Our nurses can travel with patients if the child is medically fragile. However, I don't feel as though the compensation on my end is worth it.. I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week with this child and family..

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Thanks, but no thanks would be the answer here. Under no circumstances would you not be expected to 'pitch in' even though they are well aware that you will only be paid for eight hours. Not worth it. And don't let them guilt trip you into doing it. One of my clients had a group of nurses that traveled when the client went overseas. Well, he had a medical emergency in a country where the language is not English. The nurses had problems accessing care for the patient. When they all got home, he fired his nursing staff. Not worth it.

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I was actually asked the same thing recently by the family I work for. My situation is 9 hr days and for 8 days away. I would have my own room. Would work according to their plans. I get along with the family well but I'm concerned about crossing boundaries. But if I don't go I'm out of work for a week. Not sure what to do. I don't mind helping after I've worked my hours I just don't want it to be expected. I also know this is their vacation and I feel bad as I'm the only nurse they feel comfortable to go along.

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Specializes in Peds Homecare.

my opinion is if you have your nagging inner voice telling you not to go, then listen to it. in the first case, you should tell them you have to have your own room, and your food should be payed for, at least some of it. so tell them thanks but no thanks, moniq1231. same for you lnpst3. you would think that your agency would back both of you up and at least lay some ground rules regarding meals, a room, and hours worked. i have been doing homecare a long time, i'd say no.:no:

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I know everyone wants a family vacation, but not everyone deserves a family vacation! "You are the only nurse we trust" = (if I butter you up, then I can take advantage of you to the n-th degree.)

IMHO,They should either take a night nurse also, or pay you out of pocket for the extra shift you know you will be working.

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

I wouldn't do it because I know it would be like being on call 24/7 as far as the family was concerned, and the anxiety that created would outweigh anything positive I can think of related to it being a vacation spot. Especially for 8 hour shifts.

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This is a no-win situation. Draw up a contract. They pay for at least 2 meals/day, or give you 25/day for meals. When you are not on duty, you are not available. Then make certain you are not available!!! You MUST have a private room, no sharing. And when you are in your room - -with a television - - you are not available.

If you do work ANY time past your appointed hours, they pay you time and a half, in cash, within 2 hours of the time worked. Ask to see the money before you work the hours.

Better yet, bow out gracefully. ("I can't afford to board my pet")

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Agree 100% with Merlee, because if you don't make the terms VERY clear, you're going to be taking care of that kid 24 hours/day the entire time, and end up losing money in the end because you'll have to buy meals in a vacation town for a week, not to mention being stuck sharing a room with a teenager, which I can imagine could easily lead to even more problems than loss of privacy.

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Exactly! Listen to that inner voice. The trip could cost more than a weeks pay, more than jusr $.

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